Match Report: UC v's Union College

Local rivalries are always a big part of our schedule at the University of the Cumberlands, and there is no closer rivalry than Union College. Located around 30 miles away it is a local rivalry that is always fierce and intense. We went into the game looking to build on previous performances and get the result that we have been working hard for throughout the season.

 As we have with the majority of our games, we got of to a good start in possession, moving the ball effectively around the field. Despairingly, we suffered the same problem as in previous games and conceded a goal early doors. Soccer as with any sport is not just about the quality individuals or the team have technically, it is also about the belief they have in themselves and each other that determines their success. Going a goal down in the early part of games is far from ideal and it is something we must fix in order to move to the next level. The encouraging thing is that even though we have been conceding early in games, we have shown the courage and confidence to maintain possession of the ball and work patiently and methodically up the field.

Throughout the opening twenty minutes both teams created chances and it always looked like being a close encounter. If I were a coach that believed in luck I would say we have been unlucky so far this season. But luck plays no part, whether it be good luck or bad luck. When you are losing it takes grit and determination to break the duck, and when you are winning it takes dedication and commitment to stay there. With this said, we suffered an unfortunate sending off on around the 25 minute mark when Emily Maddux was deemed to have fouled her opponent and was the last man between the attacker and the goal. Going down to 10 men is always a difficult adjustment for the players, but a sending off leaves no choice but to deal with the decision and move on. A quick change to bring on Emily Jones as replacement center back for Emily Maddux meant that Emma Myrick had to make way.

It has to be said that the sending off seemed to spark something deep down within the players. The response was immediate and within 10 minutes the scores were level with a great team build up finished off by Ana Derrico. We carried this momentum through the rest of the first half, dominating possession and putting everything we had into our tackles and overall performance. Although Union managed to score again with another sloppy goal we continued to push and create chances. This was rewarded when another team build up resulted in a great finish from Toni Dempsey to send us into halftime on level terms.

With a game of this magnitude I was fired up, and the halftime team talk centered around the passion we must show, and our desire to win the game. I knew the players believed in themselves, we just needed to give everything we had in the second half and execute our style of play. It was made clear we did not leave the field without the result we wanted.

The second half started with great pressure on our part. It was clear to see Union were tiring, and there style of play offered no variance other than kick the ball and chase it. The hardest thing to do in soccer is be patient, but it is also one of the most important. The success of Manchester United is based on this credence. If you look over the years how many of their games have been won in the last few minutes you can see why they have been Champions of England a record 19 times.

As with the majority of our previous games we stuck to our style of play, moving the ball, and aiming to work it into the final third to create chances. The biggest difference in this game than the games previous is that all the pieces of the puzzle were together. We worked extremely hard off the ball to win it back, and when in possession we showed our composure and class.

For all the good work we had put into the game Union managed a third goal about 15 minutes into the second half. Although undeserved, we were a goal down and again chasing the game. At this point I felt comfortable with the fact that we would get the goal back and go on and push for more. Though I don’t like been a goal down I really felt like the game was ours. Unfortunately what happened next didn’t make our task any easier. Emily Jones was sent off for a blatant foul which also saw a Union player receive a red card. There is a very fine line between competing and been overzealous, and in the moment composure was lost.

Throughout the season we have had to deal with many setbacks. We cannot blame anyone else for those setbacks, and we must continue to take responsibility for them, push through to get to where we want to be. Our second half performance was incredible and we squandered several chances that could have tied the game. We showed patience on the ball and outworked a Union team who were still carrying an extra man.

Although the breakthrough didn’t come and the game finished 3-2 in the favor of Union I felt that the performance was the best of the year. It is easy to look at things negatively when the results aren’t going your way but we must take the positives out of every situation. We must continue to fix the problems we are having but build on the all the positives we have got.

With a packed schedule over the next month we know that we must keep up our work ethic and push even more. The program is moving in the right direction and though the results of the games don’t reflect this, everyone involved with the program knows our capabilities and the direction we are going. We are in a much better place now than we have been previously. The program now has an identity, and a purpose. It is no longer a program for anybody, it is a program for a group of elite players willing to sacrifice and achieve the goals that we are so capable of.